Taping the MCL

Kinesiology tape (also known as sports tape) can help to relieve symptoms by providing your MCL with support and protection. Kinesiology taping is popular among athletes, coaches and medical professionals as a way to prevent re-injury. If you want to try kinesiology taping for your MCL, follow the instructions below.

You can also find a variety of different taping instructions and videos online. The key to taping your injury is to tape the area that feels painful.

Taping an MCL Tear

Take a full length piece of tape (about 10 inches long) and cut it in half, rounding the corners, so you have two pieces that are each about 5 inches long.

Bend your knee so it’s at a 90° angle and take one of the 5 inch strips, tearing the backing in the middle and peeling it away so you are holding onto the two anchor ends.

Apply the strip vertically over the point of pain on the inside of your knee (so it’s parallel with your thigh), using 80% stretch in the middle and no stretch at the ends.

Take the other 5 inch strip and tear the backing in the middle, peeling it away so you are holding onto the two anchor ends.

Apply the strip horizontally over the point of pain (so it’s parallel with your calf) to form a “cross” shape, using 80% stretch in the middle and no stretch at the ends.

Take a full length piece of tape and tear the backing off one end, anchoring it between the place where the other two pieces were anchored, using no stretch.

Using 25% stretch, follow the line of your knee through the center of the “cross”, curving along the shape of your knee and up your thigh.

Lay down the end with no stretch and rub the tape in to ensure sticking.